ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Houston Astros had managed almost no production from their normally potent offense in this series when they struggled into the eighth inning of their second game against the rival Angels.

Nobody was surprised when Jose Altuve provided just the jolt they needed.

Altuve hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the eighth, and the Astros rallied from a late two-run deficit for a 5-3 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Altuve connected on a low pitch from reliever Jose Alvarez, poking it down the left field line and clearing the bases to put the Astros up 4-3.

"I didn't hit it very hard, but I put it in the right spot," Altuve said. "It feels good."

Although he was thrown out at the plate moments later when he inexplicably tried to score from second on an infield grounder, last season's AL MVP had already put himself firmly back on track. He ended an 0-for-16 skid Monday, and he reached base three times with two hits Tuesday.

"I think in Altuve's mind, he's been struggling," Josh Reddick said. "He's still hitting .310. I'd like to be on that train."

Reddick threw out two Los Angeles runners from right field, and he also got a leadoff double in the eighth against Alvarez (2-1). The reliever swiftly wasted seven stellar innings by rookie Jaime Barria, the second straight Angels starter to shut down the powerful Astros.

"Altuve hit a good pitch," Alvarez said. "If it's another hitter, maybe he misses it or rolls it over. But he's a good hitter."

Brian McCann had two hits and drove in another run for the defending World Series champions (27-17), who reclaimed sole possession of first place in the AL West after the Angels (25-17) pulled virtually even Monday.

Barria yielded four hits and struck out seven over seven excellent innings for the Angels, but Alvarez fell apart in the eighth against the defending World Series champions. Manager Mike Scioscia defended his reliever, saying Alvarez had thrown well.

"Jose is one of our most reliable guys down there, against righties or lefties," Scioscia said. "That's probably the one guy you don't want to see up in that situation up there, but unfortunately, we found him."

Gerrit Cole added seven strikeouts to his AL-leading total, but the Orange County native lasted just five innings his second career start at Angel Stadium, where his parents were longtime season ticket holders. Cole gave up five hits and left trailing 3-1.

Upton's two-run homer in the first inning was his seventh already in May, while backup catcher Rivera added a solo shot in the fifth.

BIG ARM

After throwing out Mike Trout at third base in the fifth, Reddick got his second outfield assist in the seventh, throwing out Kinsler at the plate by a healthy margin as he tried to score from second.

"Just some hard-hit balls that got to me pretty quick," Reddick said. "Luckily I was lined up right."

JAIME SIZZLES

Barria was outstanding in his fifth career start, limiting Houston to four singles and only five baserunners. The 21-year-old Panamanian rookie has been an unexpected boon to the Angels' injury-plagued rotation, and was stellar at home again after taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his last start in Anaheim.

LINEUP TWIST

Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 while batting in the No. 2 spot in the Angels' lineup for the first time behind leadoff hitter Trout, who had two walks and two strikeouts. Scioscia shook up his lineup because of a scheduled day off for Zack Cozart, their normal leadoff hitter. After beginning his rookie season in the No. 8 spot, Ohtani has steadily progressed up the order.

UMPIRE INJURED

Home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth left in the third inning when Ohtani fouled a 99-mph fastball off his mask. Culbreth was visibly shaken, and CB Bucknor replaced him behind the plate. The 55-year-old Culbreth has been in the majors since 1993, appearing in two World Series.

UP NEXT

Astros: Justin Verlander (4-2, 1.21 ERA) is coming off a loss to Texas despite allowing one run in six innings. He is just 9-8 against the Angels in his decorated career.

Angels: Garrett Richards (4-1, 4.09 ERA) held the Astros to 1 earned run over 11 combined innings in two starts last season. He is 5-4 against Houston in his career.